Happy Holidays! The decision to go no contact is rarely an easy one. Feelings of sadness, guilt and even isolation are common and can be especially hard to reconcile around the holidays. This year marked my first no contact Christmas, and, while it was upsetting at times to no longer be partaking in family traditions I had cherished throughout my childhood, the distance also gave me peace of mind. In this week’s episode, I get into everything from how I was feeling and how I managed the more negative emotions that surfaced to how I’ve adjusted my expectations of the holiday season and how I plan to redefine family traditions for me!

1:17 Our Unconventional Approach to Life

5:09 Conventional Celebrations

7:00 The Value of Family Traditions

10:47 Adjusting to Changing Traditions

26:53 Misconceptions of Narcissistic Parents

29:56 Letting Go and Redefining

33:48 Optimist Based in Reality

37:37 Being Thankful for Where I Am Now

41:41 The Plan for Next Year

46:19 Outro